Splint



Feb. 2 0, 1940. E. LONGFELLOW 2,191,283

SPLINT 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 2, 1938 )M2M/ZA da@ Feb. 20, 1940.

E. E. LONG FELLOW SPLINT Filed July 2, 193s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 f4 fama@ I 15 either side of ja patients body and having parts, The concave surfaces 3 of theanchor member .I 16" i` 20- the body.

` 30 Fig. 2 is a. sectional view'takenr substantially A reinforcing strip 29fis secured to` thefouter 30..

45 portion being provided at 4 to increase the com- .Icsletvelyf. .The hnge bracket 3.7'SjSeCll1ed t0 15K l 55. I3, and ifi are preferably-provided with-pads I6, bracket 38- from the hinge 2I and thereby effect a 55.' I

Patentedlfeb. vv 20, 1 940. l .ff n I 1 sPLlN'r ELLongfeuow, Warsaw, 1mi., eSignal-i0 Harryv H. Leiter, Warsaw; 1nd.

- Applicatiensuiyfz, 193s, sefia1fne--vz1a2er f4 claims. (c1. .12s-1488 uNiT Eo lsfrMil?.s* Pf-ATENT l i orrlcs My 'invention relates to splints, and more par-y Il, and I8', lrespectively, ofA felt or other'suitable tcularly to improvements -in splints utilized in `material vwhich prevents the straps fromdirectly the treatment of'fractures which necessitate the engaging the patients body and thus lend greater holding of an upper limb in a xed position with 'comfort to the wearer.

5 respect to the body'. An upper armsupport or'cradle 2lis connected 5'# It is an object of my invention to provide an to the anchor member I- by a hinge 2| that is adjustable `support for holding a patients arm secured to the upper arm support or cradle 2 I. and in a xed position with respect to the body, which the anchormember ibyy rivets -2 2, or other suitsupport insures greater comfort and leaseof the able meansrl .The anchor member and upper ipatientby. providing a substantially smooth and yarm rsupport or cradle 20 are preferably uted 1W 4continuous padded surface adjacent to4 the lpaas at 213 and '26,respectively, adjacent the hinge tients body and supporting` the upper arm. `Vr2 I v.to increase the rigidity thereof.v The upper Another-object of my invention is to provide arm support orcradle has a concave surface an improved splintv adaptable formounting on `25 for supporting the upper arm of thepatient.

adjustable to the Vphysical dimensions of the and V of' the upper arm support orcradle 2D patient as Well as adjustable to a wide varietyof are covered by a sing-*le 'pad 26 of felt or other positions, for vsecuring the patients upper arm suitableImateri'a-l which is held in place by ties and vforearm in fixed positionswith respect lto l such as `2'I. The'pad 26 ,preferably extends beyondthe edges of the anchor member I and upper 2Q. O ther objects, features andadvantag'es of Amy arm support crcradle 20 tov prevent ypossi-bility invention will be apparent from the following of contact `betweenthe metal parts of the anchor` description and the drawings wherein ka premember I and upper arm support or cradle 20 ferred embodiment" of lmy. invention is clearly and the patient'. The use of the single pad 26 26' shownA and described. for both' the anchormember I: andthe upper arm 2.5.'- In the drawings: support or cradle'Zi) provides a continuous and Fig. lis a perspectivejview of apreferredy emsubstanti-ally smooth inner surface adjacent the bodiment of, my Ainvention and indicates the patients body and thereby minimizes themsadaptation thereof to a patients body. and arm; Sbilityof chafing.

onY the line 2-2 of Fig. l and looking in theldire'c- Asurface of fthe anchor member I by rivets 30.

tion of the arrows; c f f v This reinforcingstrip 29 extends longitudinally of 'Fig 3is a View taken substantially onth'e line the anchor member I and is preferably located 3--3f of Fig. Zand lookingin the' direction of the substantially-midway between the sides of the arrows; and l anchor member. An extension strip3l is secured 35..y

Fig.` 4 is a view ,taken substantially on a line to the upper farm support or cradle Zillby rivets 4 4. of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the 32; andt and extends. beyond the end ofthe uparrgws, v per arm support 'or cradle. The kextension strip With particular reference to. the drawings, an 3i and' reinforcing strip vllboth extend substan- 40 anchor .member i comprises aplatehaving 'ven-v tially perpendulal to the axis of,y the hinge 2l 4.0 tilating. openings, suchas 2 anda concaveinner -and preferably have substantially.` co-planei`4 surfacey 3 adapted to vfit the side Iof `apatients longitudinal Celllil.lYlES- A Strut 'Or'baCe 00mbody andextend. practically from the hip vto the j pricing a turnbuckle 3'4 is fulcrumed at itsen'dS, arm pit of the patient; an outwardly curved edge 3S 'all 35 Mld-.3&1 to hinge blaCketS 3T and 33,

fort of the wearer anelito prevent'chang-', the extension -stripil andupper arm support or Buckles 5, 6,1, 8, @,fand It are secured rto the cradle zby the rivet 32.` The hinge bracket 38 outer surface of the anchor member I kby rivets, .i5 secured to a plate 39 by a I'VB L A Wing such as II or other suitable fasteningmeans. The bolt 4I eXteIldS through an opening in the plate buckles 5, l, 8, il, and l@ co-operate with straps i3d and is threaded` intoI thev opening 42 in the 5o I2, 13, and |11 to hold the anchor member in po k reinforcing strip 29 and anchor member I. The. sition against the body yof a patient substantially wing bol-t 4I is also adapted'to bel threaded into as indicated in Fig. 1 where the body and arms opening-543.01' M in the reinforcing strip 29 and are shown indotted lines, as at i5. The straps I2, anchor member I to vary the distance of the hinge rough adjustment of the angular position of the upper arm support or cradle 20 with respect to the anchor member I. The distance between the openings 42, 43, and 44 is preferably so related to the design of the turnbuckle 34 that adjustment of the turnbuckle accomplishes adjustment of the angular position of the upper arm support or cradle 2D, with respect to the anchor member to any position between the extremes provided by movement of the plate 39 and wing bolt 4|. A forearm support strip 45 is adjustably secured at one end to the extension strip `3| rby Ia bolt 46 which extends through van opening 41 in the forearm support strip 45 and through a longitudinal slot 48 in the extension strip 3| to provide a fulcrum for the forearm support strip 45; the forearm support strip 45 also being adjustable longitudinally of the extension strip3| by movement of the bolt 46 in the slot 43. `A wing nut 49 on thebolt 45 serves to secure the position yof the forearm support strip 45 with respect to the extension strip3 A brace 5B is fulcrumed to the extension strip 3| and upper arm support or cradle 25 by the l rivet 32 and has a longitudinal slot .5| therein. A wing bolt 52 extends through the slot 5| and is Vthreaded into the forearm support strip 45. The brace 55, being angularly disposed with respect to the extension strip 3| and'forearm support strip 45 and being fulcrumed to theextension strip 3l and adjustably secured to the forearmY support stripA 45 by the wing bolt 52, provides an additional means for positively determining the position of the forearm support strip 45 with respect to the extension strip 3l.

The forearm support strip 45 has a forearm cradle 53 adjustably secured thereto by a pair of bolts 54 and 55 that extend through a longitudinal slot 56 in the forearm Support strip 45 and have co-operating wing nuts 5] and 58, respectively. The forearm cradle 53 is `preferably prol vided with Ventilating openings, such as 59, and has an integral hand rest E9. The forearm cradle 53 is preferably uted at 5| between the hand` rest and the forearm support strip 45 to increase the rigidity thereof.

A substantially L-shaped hitch support 52is secured to the extension strip 3| by a pair of wing bolts and 34 and extends longitudinally outward from the ends of the extension strip 3l. The L-shaped hitch support 62` has openings 65 andgt in an angularly extending portion 67 thereof. An eyebolt 58 extends `through the opening and is provided with a co-operating wing nut 59 and a washer 75. l

The eyebolt 5B supports a hitchmember 'H and preferably has a compression spring 'l2 surrounding a portion thereof between the an'gularly 'extending portion |37- of the L-shaped hitch support and the washer 1l). is adapted to `hold the end of a strap 13 in tension for applying tractive force to the upper arm when such tractive force is necessary ordesirable.

In the use of the device disclosed ,and described herein, after the anchor member is firmly secuured in position with respect to the body of the patient, the angular relation` between the upper arm and body is adjusted and determined by determining the position of the plate 39 with I respect to the reinforcing strip ZBandby adjustment of the turnbuckle 34. When the wing bolt 52 and the wing nut 45 are loosened, the `florearm support strip is moved longitudinally of the extension strip 3| to effect adjustment corresponding to the lengthof the upper arm. At the The hitch member 'il' same time the angular relation of the forearm with respect to the upper arm is determined by the angular adjustment of the forearm support strip 45. After such adjustment, the wing bolt 52 and wing nut 49 are tightened to secure firmly the forearm support strip in place. The forearm cradle 53 is adjusted longitudinally of the forearm support strip 45 to correspond to the length of the forearm and properly place the hand rest 6G. 'Ihe entire device being practically symmetrica] except for the direction at which the forearm support 45 extends from the extension strip 3|, mounting is accomplished on either side of the patient by merely reversing the direction of the forearm support strip 45.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not wishto be limited to the precise details set forth but desire toavail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

l. In a surgical appliance, the combination comprising, an upper arm support comprehending means having a slot therein extending longitudinally of the upper arm support,a forearm support comprehending manually adjustable clamp-ing means rotatable and slidable in said slot, said forearm support having manually adjustablemeans to enable variations in `the'length thereof independently of the manually adjustable clamping means, a brace pivoted to one of the supports and having a longitudinal slot therein, and manually adjustable clampingmeans extending through the slot in the brace for securing the brace and the supports in fixed angular relation.

2. In a surgical appliance, the combination comprising, an anchor member having a concave inner surface, an upper arm support having a concave inner surface, a hinge connecting said member and support, and apad secured to the concave inner surfaces of the member and support to provide a continuous padded inner surface.

3. In a splint, the combination. comprising, an upperarm support, a bar secured at one end to said upper arm support and extending substantially parallel to the. medial line of la patients upper armwhen 'the arm is positioned in said upper arm support, said bar having a `longitudinal slot therein positioned opposite the elbow of the patient, a forearm support comprising a rod.

having an aperture through the lower end thereof, adjustabler pivot means extending through said aperture and through said slot to permit the lower end of said forearm support to be shifted longitudinally of said bar to bring said lower end opposite the` elbow of the patient, said forearm support having adjustable slotted means to permit variations in the length thereof after the position of the lower end of said forearm support is fixed, and an adjustable locln'ng member extending between the forearm support and the bar to permit pivotal movement of sad forearm support about the adjustable pivot means when loosened and to secure said forearm support rigid withv respect to said bar when tightened, said pivotal movement being accomplished without movement of said pivot point with respect to the patients elbow.

4. In a splint, the combination comprising, an anchor member, an upper arm support hinged to the anchor member,.a barsecured at one end to said yupper arm support and extending substantially parallelrto the medial line of a patients upper arm when the armis'lpositioned in said upperarm support, said bar havinga longitudinal slot thereinrpositioned opposite the elbowk -of the patient, a forearm support comprising'a rod having an aperture through the lower end thereof, adjustable' pivot j means extending through said aperture andlthrough said slot to permit lthe lower end ofy said `forearm support to be shifted longitudinallyl of said bar to bring said lower end opposite the elbow of the patient, 'said forearm support having adjustable slotted means to permit variations in the length ,thereof altterl f the position of the lower end of said forearm support is iiXed, and an adjustable' locking.membery extending between the forearm` support and the rigidk Withj'respectto said bar wheny tightened, said pivotal movement. being accomplished withf out movement of said pivot point with respect to the patients elbow, an` adjustable bracinglrrnem. .ber extendingbetween the anchor member fand the upper arm support, said bracing member being attached to the upper arm support byia single rivet `passing'v through,l the adjustable Abracing member, the lower end of theadjustablelocking member, the upperarrn support bar; and the. upper arm support, whereby said rivet serves to Y l anchor the several elementsy and `forms. a pivot 1 1.

for the adjustable lockingmember; ,Y

t A `ElrRllLi lE. LONGFELLOW.

support about the adjustable rpivot means when loosened and to-secure Isaid forearmv support 

